PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (March 25, 2010)--Chip Lutz of Reading, Pa., Don Edwards of nearby Hobe Sound and Bob Hughett of Green Valley, Ariz., were the winners Thursday in the Society of Seniors’ second annual Spring Classic at the Santa Lucia River Club.
Lutz switched to a long putter after the second round and closed with a four under pare 68 for 224, winning the senior division for ages 55-64 by five shots. It was his third victory since turning 55 in January, his second in this area.
Like Lutz, Edwards earned his first Society title, the super seniors flight for ages 65 and older, edging defending age group champion Rich Anderson of Bloomington, Minn., 75 to 76 the final round and 227-228 for the 54-hole route.
In a separate event for players 75 and older, Bob Hughett beat a handful of entrants on 83-258. It was Hughett’s second Society title. He teamed with Bill Freehan to win the 2006 Ed Tutwiler Memorial Four-Ball at Daniel Island Club in Charleston, S.C.
Lutz, an attorney who specializes in title insurance, won the Golfweek Senior Championship at the Doral Resort in suburban Miami on Jan. 17 and teamed with Chip Lange to capture the senior division of the International Four-Ball on Feb. 21 at The Fox Club in Palm City.
“I really putted poorly the first two days here,” said Lutz, who made but one birdie during back-to-back 78s and trailed by five shots heading into the final round. But a late-afternoon practice session Wednesday with former U.S. Senior Amateur champion Mike Bell produced dramatic results.
“It’s the first time I have used the long putter in competition,” a 47-inch Yes model, Lutz said. “Mike helped me a lot with grip, tempo and other techniques,” Lutz added. He used two different standard length, 34-inch putters the first two days, making one birdie. He scored three birdies and a bogey on each nine Thursday.
Edwards made two birdies and six bogeys on the back nine, which he played first, then settled down with a birdie and eight pars coming home the front. He had two eagles Wednesday, sinking a 20-foot putt after reaching the green in two at the par-5 third and holing a 90-yard second shot at the par-4 18th.
“I drove the ball extremely well all week, especially today,” Edwards said. “I never hit a ball out of play with my driver.
“I’m very happy to win my first Society of Seniors title.”
The Society of Seniors is an organization of amateur golfers 55 years and older with handicaps of three or less when they are invited to join. There are about 850 members. The Spring Classic is the first of seven tournaments this year. Next on the schedule is the John Kline Super Seniors April 27-29 at Delray Dunes in Boynton Beach.
ABOUT THE SOS Spring Classic
Society of Seniors Members Only. 54 hole
stroke
play
tournament with Senior (ages 55 and over),
Super
Senior (65+), Legend (70+) and Grand Master (75+)
divisions.
View Complete Tournament Information